City Hall, Driver's Licensing Center, and the first Heavy Snow / 青森市役所、青森県運転免許センターと大雪の日

One of the first things we had to do after moving to Aomori was to register at City Hall. We had done all the preliminary requirements of moving from Setagaya Ward in Tokyo such as giving notice of our impending move, along with our address change. So on the first weekday, we took a bus to City Hall. We first went to the bank to make a payment for our new car. The only branch of our bank in Aomori was in Shinmachi. From there, we walked to City Hall.

青森に引っ越したから、やっぱり早めにやることは青森市役所に行って青森市民になる手続きしなきゃいけないのである。住所変更等は引っ越す前に済ましたので、次のステップです。まだ車がないためバスで青森駅まで行き、私たちの銀行に行った。この間注文した車の支払いして、新町という場所から青森市役所まで歩いた。

Dogu statue. Clay figurines such as the above were found at the Sannai-Maruyama Archeological Site near my mother-in-law's home and are believed to be from the Jomon period (14,000-4,000 BC). You can spot these statues near Aomori station and beyond.

青森駅の近くに土遇（人間(特に女性)を模して、あるいは精霊を表現して作られたと考えられる土製品）の像があります。 縄文時代のものである。

I love public art. You can find this in front of  City Hall.

個人的にパブリックアートが好き。これは青森市役所の前にあります。

Aomori City Hall / 青森市役所

We spent all morning filling out the necessary forms to register as an Aomori City resident. This includes a transference notification, seal registration (required for all legal documents), seal registration certificate (my wife needs this for our car purchase). When we were finished filling out the forms, it was time for lunch. We decided to eat at the City Hall Cafeteria. The price is very cheap and the food was surprisingly good.

朝から市役所で青森市民になるための資料がいっぱい。転入届き、印鑑登録、印鑑登録証明書、等）。終わったらもう昼食の時間になり、市役所の食堂で食べました。ここは安くて以外と美味しかった。

I ordered the yakisoba set which was served with miso soup and only cost 450 yen. After lunch we took a bus to where are car dealer is located to complete the paperwork there too. The only thing left to there is wait for them to call to let us know are car is ready. We then did a bit of shopping. My mother-in-law bought me a down jacket and a pair of gloves (more required items if living in Aomori during the winter season). We took a train back home from Shin-Aomori station.

僕が注文したのはやきそばセット。これで４５０円で安いと以外に美味しいです。食べたあとまたバスに乗って車屋のところに行きました。あとは新車が来る連絡を待つ。今日も買い物に行きました。義理の母が僕のためにダウンの上着と手袋を買ってくれた。これも冬の青森に必須のアイテムです。新青森駅から家に戻った。

At Shin-Aomori station, I couldn't help notice the post office box with a model of Sannai-Maruyama on top. The archaeological site where many items from the Jomon period was found.

新青森駅にあるポストの上に山内丸山のモデルがあった。

The following day, my wife and I decided to go to the Aomori Prefecture Driver's Licensing Center so she could change the address on her driver's license. We checked the bus and train schedule only to find that it would probably be quicker if we walked. My wife said it is located next to the Sannai-Maruyama Site. As we have walked from the house to there before, she thought it would be as simple as the last time. But that was wishful thinking! It was snowing and the center was located further away than we anticipated.

翌日青森県運転免許センター行くことにした。バスと電車の時刻表を見ましたが、妻がやっぱり歩いたほうが早いかもと言い出し、歩くことにした。場所は山内丸山の隣にあるということで、以前私たちは家からそこまで歩いたこともあったから楽勝と思いました。これが凶になるとは。第一天気は荒れて結構雪が降ってた。場所も思った以上遠かった。

Walking to the Aomori Prefecture Driver's Licensing Center.

青森県運転免許に目指す途中の景色。

I do love the sound of my footsteps on the snow. Those on the very right are my footsteps.

雪の上に歩く音が好き。上の写真なら一番右側が僕の足跡です。

No closer to reaching our goal.

目的地までまだまだ。

We stopped in at Sannai-Maruyama to ask for directions to the driver's licensing center. The lady there asked where we were parked and was quite surprised when we told her we were walking. My wife said we walked from Sannai Cemetery when the truth was, we walked from Midorigaoka (located even further away). We had to walk another two kilometers or so it seemed. Who knows how far it was.

山内丸山のビルに入って、運転免許センターの場所を訪ねてみた。車はどこに駐車しまたと聞かれ、私たちが歩いてると答えたら、びっくりして、どこから歩いたんですかと更に聞かれ、妻が山内霊園と答え、本当は緑が丘まで言いたくなかったみたい。それもまだ遠い場所ですからね。こういう天気に歩く馬鹿は居るでしょうかって感じで、はいこの天気で歩く馬鹿は私たち二人であった。ここからまだ遠いと言われましたが、仕方なく歩き続きました。

At last we made it! The Aomori Prefecture Driver's Licensing Center. Why it had to be located out here in the boonies is a mystery to me.

やっとたどり着いた！青森県運転免許センター。なんでこんな遠い場所で建てられたんだろうと思う自分の疑問。

We are certainly not walking back home. Here we are waiting for the bus.

家まで歩いて帰るのもとんでもない。ここで一旦バス待ち。

We had quite a bit of snow afterwords as well but were not fool enough to go out walking anywhere in it.

その後も結構雪が降ったが、どっか歩いて行くことは避けました。

The sun was trying its hardest to shine through but lost in the end.

太陽は頑張って出ようとしたが、無理でした。

The road in front of my mother-in-law's house.

家の前の道路。

Tsugaru Shinjo Station / 津軽新城駅

Railway bridge over the Shinjo River.

新城川を渡る電車の橋。

I am loving this winter view from my den though.

自分の書斎からの眺めが僕の一番の気に入り。

Our neighborhood park.

近所の小さな公園。

I don't think anybody can slide down the slide right now.

今なら滑り台に滑るのは無理ぽいだな。

Back home to get my exercise by doing some snow shoveling.

帰って雪かきするしかない。これが結構の労働で運動になりますよ。

Front door / 玄関前

Yes, I also did my share of snow shoveling.

はい、自分もちゃんと雪かきしましたよ。

However, according to my mother-in-law, this is still the mild part of winter. As one who has never lived in snow country I am not sure what to expect in the coming months.

義理の母によるとこれはまだたいした雪ではないと言う。自分は雪国に生活したことないので、これからの冬はどうなるんだろう。